The lack of a suffix or a correct street identifier on the self-completed envelope should have no bearing on the electoral board’s ability to identify the voter, especially since every return envelope includes a VERIS generated label with the voter's identifying information.

The 2014 General Assembly passed legislation that was signed into law that excluded middle names or initials from being considered material omissions based on the premise that they were not critical in the ability of an electoral board to determine the voter’s identity. The electoral board can match the voter information on the returned envelope with the list of voters who requested an absentee ballot to confirm the identify of the voter who mailed back the absentee ballot.

The items considered under this proposed regulation change are no different - these changes are unnecessary and could result in the failure to count legitimate votes. As long as the electoral board can identify the voter who is submitting the absentee ballot, that vote should be counted.